It's a Rand Rand's World

Défense nationale et sécurité collective, December 2006
The world according to RAND
JEAN-PHILIPPE IMMARIGEON
To control, is knowledge alone enough? It is certain that we cannot
control without knowledge, but can we substitute knowledge for action?...
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Défense nationale et sécurité collective, December 2006
The world according to RAND
JEAN-PHILIPPE IMMARIGEON
To control, is knowledge alone enough? It is certain that we cannot
control without knowledge, but can we substitute knowledge for action? This is a well-worn debate in which many try to argue the principle that technology will eventually allow us to validate Condorcet,
Laplace and Einstein’s hypothesis–that all is contained in a single, universal law and that knowledge of this law will allow us to see into the
future and to control mankind.
We should not forget that this very
principle has been behind the success of the West in the sense that its
industrial and war-making capabilities have enabled it to dominate a
world seen in its own image.
This is the only approach that is recognised by American culture and remains the standard borne by the wellknown RAND Corporation.
Yet this approach is coming to the end of
the road, as has been shown most significantly by
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